As the Sun Sets

 

    Education is something I feel passionate about, because I believe it can cure many ills in this world. Therefore to see another school being targeted by extremists in the last week, I find heartbreaking.

    I'm talking about the 141 fatalities, 132 children and 9 teachers that were massacred in an army school, in Peshawar, Pakistan; a place where parents sent their children to be educated, safely.

    Back in April this year we were faced with the sickening event in Chibok, Nigeria when 276 female students were kidnapped from their school and in places such as Syria, Afghanistan, schools are continually targeted.

    As the sun sets on this year, we can only pray that governments will find a way to stop this and that children can be educated without their parents having to worry as to whether they will ever see them again, after dropping them off at school.

Stocking Filler

    Earlier this year my mother passed away and I know when I meet up with the rest of my family on the 25th of December our memories of her will come flooding back. Our Christmas's were always special, even if there were no iPads, laptops, or designer clothes waiting for us when we got up.

   Our Christmas stockings overflowed with fruit, candy, all inexpensive items but nevertheless gifts left by Santa. Amongst my small bundle of wrapped gifts left below the tree, there were always books, pens, pencils and a blank journal, everything a budding writer desired.

    The gift of a blank journal continued each year until her last Christmas and the blank pages are now ready for another year of muse.

Baby it's Cold Outside

        My blog hasn't been updated over the last week, as I've been recovering from a bout of flu. My little  grey cells have been in a permanent state of slush, however I'm now feeling miles better and I'll see you Friday if not before.

A Patriotic Day

Fishing Creels on the harbour

    Even when I'm not in Scotland on St Andrews Day, November 30th, I celebrate the fact that I'm Scottish and I know there are many all over the world who do exactly the same.

Archway built in medieval times 

 
    Today, I've included photographs of the place in Scotland that bears our patron's name, the medieval town of St Andrews.

St Andrews Cathedral

    Of course I can't mention the town without mentioning it's university, the place Prince William and Kate first met.

University of St Andrews

Postcard From My BackYard

    The blog post today is a postcard from my backyard. These are the views I see when I go out of the back door of my apartment in the Canaries.

    It's something I wanted to share with you, because it's worth sharing.

Ready to get Reading for 'Book Week'

 

    It's 'Book Week' in Scotland this week, 24th - 30th November and to celebrate over the last few days I've been adding new titles to my eReader, as well dropping by a local bookstore to purchase a couple of paperbacks.

    

    I've chosen a mixed bunch of titles in both non-fiction an fiction and going along with the Scottish theme I've included a few Scottish authors, such as Val Mcdermid and Ian Rankin to my list of buys.

    The eReader is with me most of the time and if I have a few minutes to spare I'll read a couple of pages, in bed, on the train, plane, or in the park . However the paperbacks I like to keep for those long cold nights, when I'm cuddled up in a comfy chair in front of the fire. Heaven!

    So my glasses have been cleaned and my Kindle is charged, because this is one Scot that's on her mark, ready to get reading for, 'Book Week.'

Ignorance is Bliss?

    Earlier this week I was discussing school work with my teenage niece and she was telling me that she had chosen to write an essay on, racism, for English class.  She had done some research and had compiled a list of books and movies she hoped would provide her with a better understanding of this discrimination, before she finally puts pen to paper.

    Following our talk, I started to think about how subjects such as this would just be brushed under the carpet, if authors did not have the freedom to express themselves.

    However, there are countries where creativity is being stifled because of censorship and fear of recrimination; lack of core factors are inaccessible not only to children, but  to the adult population. One sided views continue to breed contempt, hatred and bigotry. Just as it did back in the 16th century for the likes of ill-fated George Wishart. Who said, ignorance is bliss?